Window latch

ABSTRACT

A latch for use in detachably interconnecting edge portions of a window and a window frame; the window being supported on the frame for swinging movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis away from a window closed position, wherein the edge portions are disposed in a closely adjacent facing relationship. The latch comprises a latching mechanism carried on the frame and a receiver carried by the window; the latching mechanism including handle operated means having a latch finger pivotally supported for movement within a plane disposed perpendicular to the edge portion of the frame between retracted and extended positions. The receiver defines a slot opening, which extends lengthwise of its associated edge portion and is adapted to receive the latch finger when the edge portions are disposed in facing relationship and the latch finger is pivoted into its extended position. When the window is in closed position, the latch mechanism and the receiver are completely hidden from view in order to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the window; and unlatching movement of the latch finger, except by means of its handle operator, is positively prevented.

United States Patent 11 1 Little 1 Oct. 2, 1973.

[ WINDOW LATCH [75] Inventor: Carl 11. Little, Jamestown, NY.

[73] Assignee: Weber-Knapp Company,

Jamestown, NY.

22 Filed: Dec. 17, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 209,112

[52] US. Cl 292/196, 292/DIG. 7, 292/DIG. 33,

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney-John B. Bean et al. I

57 ABSTRACT A latch for use in detachably interconnecting edge portionsof a window and a window frame; the window being supported on the framefor swinging movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis away from awindow closed position, wherein the edge portions are disposed in aclosely adjacent facing relationship. The latch comprises a latchingmechanism carried on the frame and a receiver carried by the window; thelatching mechanism including handle operated means having a latch fingerpivotally supported for movement within a plane disposed perpendicularto the edge por tion of the frame between retracted and extendedpositions. The receiver defines a slot opening, which extends lengthwiseof its associated edge portion and is adapted to receive the latchfinger when the edge portions are disposed in facing relationship andthe latch finger is pivoted into its extended position. When the windowis in closed position, the latch mechanism and the receiver arecompletely hidden from view in order to preserve the aestheticappearance of the window;

'and unlatching movement of the latch finger, except by means of itshandle operator, is positively prevented.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU OCT 2 75 SHEET 10F 2HTFHTIWFTITIUIITITI LLI L1 UlUlIll 4 INVENTOR.

cam H. urn E ATTORNEY;

PATENTEDBET 2W I 3,762,751

sum 2 or 2 53K a I INVENTOR. CARL H. L 7' TLE ATTORNEYS WINDOW LATCHSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to latchconstructions and more particularly to a window latch construction foruse with windows of the type supported for swinging movements betweenopen and closed positions.

The latch of the present invention features a latching mechanism adaptedto be concealed within a generally U-shaped window frame and a receivercarried by the window. The latching mechanism comprises a latch fingerand an operator, which are each pivotally supported by a latch mountingframe and interconnected by a motion transmitting arm; the latch fingerbeing arranged for operator induced pivotal movement from a retractedposition into an extended position. When the latch finger is in extendedposition, it projects through an opening provided in the window framefor latching engagement with the receiver. Preferably, the latchmounting frame is enclosed by a window frame mounted weather shield orcover.

Movement of the operator is effected by an operator handle, which ispreferably removably received within a blind opening provided in theoperator and aligned openings formed in the mounting frame, weathershield and an inwardly facing wall or leg portion of the window frame.Weather sealing about such openings may be effected by supporting arubber or like sealing grommet within the shield opening, such thatopposite ends of the grommet are disposed in sealing engagement with themounting frame and the inwardly facing wall or leg portion.

The weather shield may also be conveniently employed to define a stopsurface or abutment serving to limit the extent of pivotal movement ofthe operator in both latch finger retracting and extending directions.The presence of the abutment and the overcenter positioning of themotion transmitting arm relative to the axis of the rotation of theoperator serve to positively prevent unlatching of the window byunauthorized tam pering with the latch finger.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will now be morefully described in the following detailed description taken with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a window-installation embodyingthe latch construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the latch of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the latch of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIG. 1,wherein a latch of the present invention is generally designated as 10and shown as being employed to releasably latch a window 12 in closedposition relative to a window frame 14, which is in turn suitably fixedwithin an opening provided in building wall 15. Latch 10 generallyincludes a latching mechanism 16, which is mounted on window frame 14and a receiver 18 carried on window 12. In FIG. 1, window 12 is viewedfrom the inside of a building and shown as being supported by framemounted bearings 20 and 21 for swinging movement about a substantiallyvertically disposed axis 22 between closed and opened positions.

Window 12 and window frame l4 may be of any desired construction.However, for purposes of illustration, reference is made to FIG. 2,wherein window 12 is shown as including a glass pane 24; a peripherallyopening, generally U-shaped channel frame portion 26 for mounting pane24; and a weather sealing device, such as a U-shaped rubber, felt orlike sealing gasket 28, which may be suitably supported within channelframe portion 26 as by means of strip-like retainer member 30. Receiver18 may be suitably fixed within frame portion 26, as by screws 32.

Window frame 14 is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as being in the form of aperipherally opening, rectangular U-shaped channel member havinginwardly and outwardly facing leg or wall portions 34 and 36, and aconnecting web portion 38. Leg portion 34 is formed with a circularthrough opening 40, and web portion 38 is formed with a verticallyextending through slot opening 42 and a plurality of through openings44a and 44b dimensioned to receive screw devices 46a and 46b, whichserve to attach latching mechanism 16 within a cavity 48 defined byframe 14 and wall 15.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6, it will be understoodthat latching mechanism 16 generally includes a latching device 50,which is fixed within cavity 48 by means of screw devices 46b; a weathershield or cover 52, which is fixed within cavity 48 by screw devices 460for the purpose of enclosing latching device 50 and is formed withaccess opening 53; and a rubber, nylon or like sealing grommet sleeve 54having an annular groove 56.

Latching device 50 includes a latch finger 60 and an operator member 62,which are each supported by a latch mounting frame 64 for pivotalmovement about parallel axes and interconnected by a motion transmittingarm or link 66; latch finger 60 being arranged for operator memberinduced pivotal movement through slot opening 42 betweenretracted-unlatching and the extended-latching positions, which areshown in phantom and full line in FIG. 3, respectively. A pin shaft 68is employed to support latch finger 60 on mounting frame 64, and pinshafts 70 and 72 are employed to connect the ends of arm 66 to latchfinger 60 and operator member 62, respectively. Mounting of operatormember 62 on mounting frame 64 is conveniently effected by forming theoperator member with a cylindrical boss 74, which is rotatablyreceivable within the mounting frame through opening 76; opening 76being arranged in alignment with openings 40 and 53 when the latchingmechanism 16 is mounted on window frame 14.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, boss 74 is formed with hexagonallyshaped opening 78, which extends only partially through the operatormember and is adapted to removably receive a like configured inner endof an L-shaped operator handle 80, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.Grommet sleeve 54, which is dimensioned to freely receive handle 80, issnap-fitted through shield opening 53 to receive portions of the shieldbounding such opening within annular groove 56 and has its opposite endsarranged in sealingly engagement with facing surfaces of mounting frame64 bounding opening 76 and leg'portion 34 bounding opening 40. By thisarrangement, any air leaking through the outwardly facing leg ofU-shaped sealing gasket 28, can not pass into the building throughwindow frame opening 42, latching mechanism 16 and window frame opening40.

Now referring to FIGS. 2, S and 6, it will be seen that receiver 18 isformed with a pair of curved guide flanges 90 and 92, which cooperate todefine a recess 94, which is dimensioned adjacent its mid-point tosnugly accommodate latch finger 60 and flared at least adjacent itsupper inlet end. As will be apparent, the engagement of latch finger 60with the flared upper inlet end of recess 94 tends to cam window 12 intoproperly closed position or into a precise co-planar relationship withwindow frame 14, when the window has been swung into close proximity toits closed position. In this position, peripheral edge portions of thewindow and window frame are disposed in a closely adjacent facingrelationship.

A particularly important feature of the present invention is thatt isimpossible for an unauthorized party outside of the building to unlatchwindow 12 by .attempting to produce unlatching movements of latch finger60, as for instance by inserting an instrument into a space existingbetween frame portion 26 and window frame 14. In this respect it will beseen by reference to FIG. 3 that when latch finger 60 is 'movedcounter-clockwise into its latching position by turning movements ofhandle 80, pin shaft 72 is moved in a clockwise direction about boss 74from a position above and one one side of the boss into a position belowand on an opposite side of the boss. Thus, if one were to attempt topull or push down on latch finger 60 in an effort to return same to itsretracted position, the tendency would be for pin shaft 72 to continueto move clockwise about boss 74, whereby either arm 66 and/or operatormember 62 is placed in motion arresting abutment with the rear wall ofshield 52. On the other hand, if one were to pull or push up on latchfinger '60, counter-clockwise movement thereof from its latchingposition would also be prevented. In this respect, the construction issuch that pin shaft 72 may not move downwardly toa point sufficient topermit pin shaft 70 to pass over center from its full line positionshown in FIG. 3, which would be required in order to permit completeunlatching, counter-clockwise rotation of latch finger 60.

I claim: I

l. The combination including a window, a window frame anda latchmechanism for detachably interconnecting edge portions of said windowand said window frame, said window being supported for swinging movementabout a swinging axis away from a window closed position wherein saidwindow and window frame are disposed in an essentially co-planarrelationship with their respective edge portions disposed in a closelyspaced facing relationship, said window frame is in the form of channelmeans including a window opening bounding portion and a leg portion,said bounding portion defining said edge portion of said window frameand having a slot opening therethrough, said leg portion extendingoutwardly from adjacent a relatively inner marginal edge of saidboundary portion and said leg portion is formed with a through opening,said latch mechanism comprising:

a latch frame fixedly mounted on said window frame adjacent a relativelyoutwardly facing surface of said bounding portion;

a latch finger rotatably mounted on said latch frame for movement abouta first axis between retractedunlatched and extended-latched positionsrelative to said window frame, said first axis extending transversely ofsaid swinging axis, and said latch finger moving inwardly of arelatively inwardly facing surface of said boundary portion through saidslot when moved into said extended-latched position thereof;

an operator member rotatably mounted on said latch frame for movementabout a second axis parallel to said first axis;

link means carried adjacent opposite ends thereof on said finger andoperator member for relative piv- -otal movements about axes parallel tosaid first and second axes;

operating means for imparting authorized rotationgs to said operatormember whereby to produce authorized movement of said finger betweensaid positions thereof; I

receiver means fixedly mounted on said window adjacent said edge portionthereof whereby said receiver means and said finger are positioned inoperative alignment when said window is in said closed position topermit window latching engagement of said finger with said receivermeans when the former is moved into said extended-latched position; and

a cover fixed to said outwardly facing surface of said bounding portionfor enclosing said latch frame and said finger and said operator memberand said link means outwardly of said outwardly facing surface of saidbounding portion, said latch frame and said cover having openingstherethrough aligned with said leg opening for freely receiving saidoperating means, and said cover defines stop means for preventingnon-operating means produced movement of said finger in one directionaway from said extended-latched position upon application of forcedirectly to said finger, and said link means prevents non-operatingmeans produced movement of said finger in an opposite direction away.from said extended-latched position upon application of force directlyto said finger.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein seal means are carriedby said cover within said opening thereof for end sealing engagementwith facing surfaces of said latch frame and said leg portion about saidopening thereof, said seal means having an opening extendingtherethrough, and said operating means being removably insertablethrough said seal means opening for rotation imparting engagement withsaid operator member.

3. In the combination including a window, a window frame and a latchmechanism, said window being mounted on said frame for swingingmovements away from a closed position in which said window is disposedto lie with said frame in an essentially common vertically disposedplane with marginal edges thereof arranged in a facing relationship amarginal edge of said frame having a slot therethrough, said latchmechanism including a latch finger carried in association with saidframe adjacent one marginal edge thereof for rotation about anessentially horizontally disposed first axis between aretracted-unlatched position disposed outwardly of said marginal edge ofsaid frame and an extended-latched position projecting inwardly of saidmarginal edge of said frame through said slot, a receiver carried inassociation with said window adjacent one marginal edge thereof anddefining an open ended slot extending lengthwise of said one marginaledge of said window, said finger when rotated between said positionsthereof being movable lengthwise of said receiver recess when saidwindow is in closed position for releasably latching said window, andfinger operator means for moving said finger relative to said framebetween said positions thereof, the improvement for preventingnon-operator means induced rotations of said finger from saidextended-latched position for release from said receiver through eitherend of said receiver recess upon application of force directly to saidfinger which comprises:

said operator means includes an operator member supported for rotationabout a second axis disposed parallel to said first axis, a motiontransmitting arm, a first pin shaft for pivotally connecting a first endof said arm to said finger, and a second pin shaft for pivotallyconnecting a second end of said arm to said operator member, said pinshafts having axes thereof arranged parallel to said first and secondaxes, said pin shafts being carried on said finger and operator memberwhereby rotational movement of said operator member through about 180 inone direction between first and second positions effects rotationalmovement of said finger through about 90 in an opposite directionbetween said retracted-unlatched and extended-latched positions,respectively, and effects movement of said first pivot pin along oneside of an axis plane in which said first and second axes are disposedbetween a point spaced from said first axis in a direction away fromsaid second axis when said finger is in said retracted-unlatchedposition and a point spaced from said first axis in a direction towardssaid second axis when said finger is is in said extended-latchedposition, and effects movement of said second pivot pin from a pointdisposed on an opposite side of said axis plane and spaced from saidsecond axis in the direction of said first axis when said operatormember is in said first position and a point on said one side of saidaxis plane and spaced from said second axis in a direction away fromsaid first axis when said operator member is in said second position,said second pivot pin when positioned in the last said point thereofpreventing said first pivot pin from moving across said axis plane tosaid other side thereof whereby to prevent non-operator member inducedrotation of said finger past said extended-latched position in adirection away from said retracted-unlatched position; and

stop means disposed on said one side of said axis plane for definingsaid first and second positions of said operator means, said stop meansin defining said second position of said operator member engaging one ofsaid operator member and said arm to prevent non-operator member inducedrotation of said finger from said extended-latched position in adirection towards said retracted-unlatched position.

1. The combination including a window, a window frame and a latchmechanism for detachably interconnecting edge portions of said windowand said window frame, said window being supported for swinging movementabout a swinging axis away from a window closed position wherein saidwindow and window frame are disposed in an essentially co-planarrelationship with their respective edge portions disposed in a closelyspaced facing relationship, said window frame is in the form of channelmeans including a window opening bounding portion and a leg portion,said bounding portion defining said edge portion of said window frameand having a slot opening therethrough, said leg portion extendingoutwardly from adjacent a relatively inner marginal edge of saidboundary portion and said leg portion is formed with a through opening,said latch mechanism comprising: a latch frame fixedly mounted on saidwindow frame adjacent a relatively outwardly facing surface of saidbounding portion; a latch finger rotatably mounted on said latch framefor movement about a first axis between retracted-unlatched andextended-latched positions relative to said window frame, said firstaxis extending transversely of said swinging axis, and said latch fIngermoving inwardly of a relatively inwardly facing surface of said boundaryportion through said slot when moved into said extended-latched positionthereof; an operator member rotatably mounted on said latch frame formovement about a second axis parallel to said first axis; link meanscarried adjacent opposite ends thereof on said finger and operatormember for relative pivotal movements about axes parallel to said firstand second axes; operating means for imparting authorized rotationgs tosaid operator member whereby to produce authorized movement of saidfinger between said positions thereof; receiver means fixedly mounted onsaid window adjacent said edge portion thereof whereby said receivermeans and said finger are positioned in operative alignment when saidwindow is in said closed position to permit window latching engagementof said finger with said receiver means when the former is moved intosaid extended-latched position; and a cover fixed to said outwardlyfacing surface of said bounding portion for enclosing said latch frameand said finger and said operator member and said link means outwardlyof said outwardly facing surface of said bounding portion, said latchframe and said cover having openings therethrough aligned with said legopening for freely receiving said operating means, and said coverdefines stop means for preventing non-operating means produced movementof said finger in one direction away from said extended-latched positionupon application of force directly to said finger, and said link meansprevents nonoperating means produced movement of said finger in anopposite direction away from said extended-latched position uponapplication of force directly to said finger.
 2. The combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein seal means are carried by said coverwithin said opening thereof for end sealing engagement with facingsurfaces of said latch frame and said leg portion about said openingthereof, said seal means having an opening extending therethrough, andsaid operating means being removably insertable through said seal meansopening for rotation imparting engagement with said operator member. 3.In the combination including a window, a window frame and a latchmechanism, said window being mounted on said frame for swingingmovements away from a closed position in which said window is disposedto lie with said frame in an essentially common vertically disposedplane with marginal edges thereof arranged in a facing relationship amarginal edge of said frame having a slot therethrough, said latchmechanism including a latch finger carried in association with saidframe adjacent one marginal edge thereof for rotation about anessentially horizontally disposed first axis between aretracted-unlatched position disposed outwardly of said marginal edge ofsaid frame and an extended-latched position projecting inwardly of saidmarginal edge of said frame through said slot, a receiver carried inassociation with said window adjacent one marginal edge thereof anddefining an open ended slot extending lengthwise of said one marginaledge of said window, said finger when rotated between said positionsthereof being movable lengthwise of said receiver recess when saidwindow is in closed position for releasably latching said window, andfinger operator means for moving said finger relative to said framebetween said positions thereof, the improvement for preventingnon-operator means induced rotations of said finger from saidextended-latched position for release from said receiver through eitherend of said receiver recess upon application of force directly to saidfinger which comprises: said operator means includes an operator membersupported for rotation about a second axis disposed parallel to saidfirst axis, a motion transmitting arm, a first pin shaft for pivotallyconnecting a first end of said arm to said finger, and a second pinshaft for pivotally connecting a second end of said arm to said operatormEmber, said pin shafts having axes thereof arranged parallel to saidfirst and second axes, said pin shafts being carried on said finger andoperator member whereby rotational movement of said operator memberthrough about 180* in one direction between first and second positionseffects rotational movement of said finger through about 90* in anopposite direction between said retracted-unlatched and extended-latchedpositions, respectively, and effects movement of said first pivot pinalong one side of an axis plane in which said first and second axes aredisposed between a point spaced from said first axis in a direction awayfrom said second axis when said finger is in said retracted-unlatchedposition and a point spaced from said first axis in a direction towardssaid second axis when said finger is is in said extended-latchedposition, and effects movement of said second pivot pin from a pointdisposed on an opposite side of said axis plane and spaced from saidsecond axis in the direction of said first axis when said operatormember is in said first position and a point on said one side of saidaxis plane and spaced from said second axis in a direction away fromsaid first axis when said operator member is in said second position,said second pivot pin when positioned in the last said point thereofpreventing said first pivot pin from moving across said axis plane tosaid other side thereof whereby to prevent non-operator member inducedrotation of said finger past said extended-latched position in adirection away from said retracted-unlatched position; and stop meansdisposed on said one side of said axis plane for defining said first andsecond positions of said operator means, said stop means in definingsaid second position of said operator member engaging one of saidoperator member and said arm to prevent non-operator member inducedrotation of said finger from said extended-latched position in adirection towards said retracted-unlatched position.